Horseshoe



W. LEE'OI-I".

(No Model.)

HORSBSHOE.

Patented Feb. 21,1882.

N. PETERS Fbammhn npvw, Washington. D.C.

rre TATES PATENT OF Ic.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,930,' dated February 21, 1882.

Application filed September 8, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM LEECH, of Oroville, county of Butte, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the class of horseshoes, and more especially to that class the object of which is to spread or expand contracted hoofs.

It consists in two sides pivoted at the front center to a toe-plate, said toe-plate forming a bearing or support for a peculiar spring which lies thereon, and whose ends embrace the rear ends of the sides, whereby its tension is exerted at the ends. The beneficial objectis further accomplished by the position of the nails in the shoe, whereby the outward pressure is brought to bear to the best advantage, all of which will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a top view with the shoe in natural position. Fig.2 shows a bottom view with the shoe contracted. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the spring and shoe separately.

Let A A represent the two sides of a horseshoemadeinusualform. Attheirforwardends they are pivoted to a toe-plate, B, the rear portion of which extends backwardly. Upon this plate issupported the base or end of the spring 0. This spring has diverging arms a a, the ends being provided with curved clasps, as shown, or any suitable means for holding to the sides A A, against the inner edges of which said arms impinge. 'Upon the rear ends of the sides are the side or heel calks, b b, of any suitable shape. In the front of the sides are the grooves c c, with their holes for the toenails. Intherearofthesidesareother grooves, 11 d, with holes for nails to be driven through the heel of the hoof.

It frequently happens from various causes, principally from allowing a shoe to remain too long upon the foot, that the hoof is prevented from growing naturally, and becomes contracted, as it is called, in which condition it is very tender and the horse becomes lame.

Various devices have been used for expanding or spreading the hoof after it has been contracted. One is a shoe the parts of which are jointed and are expanded by the use of-a nut which is turned when required but this practice is not a good one, because the expansion or spreading is done suddenly, just as in the use of a wooden wedge driven between teeth to separate them. Another device is to use a spring, the continued and constant pressure of which efieets the object. But in such devices heretofore used the spring forms part of the shoe and is therefore permanent; and, moreover, the shoe is not adapted to receive the pressure in the proper place.

My shoe without the spring is fittedto the hoof and the nails driven in, both in the toe and heel. The springis then inserted, its base being fitted above and laid uponthe toe-plate, and its arms diverging rearwardly to fit and press against the sides A A. I thus obtain the continued and gentle pressure of the spring. As the hoof expands and the limit of tension of the spring is reached, so that its effect is no longer strong enough, I take it out easily and temper it and replace it; or I insert a stronger one. The springis easily removable, as it is not attached to the shoe, and yet it is well supported by the toe-plate and its end clasps.

It will be observed that I have provided for nails through the shoe at the heel. It is the heel which requires the most spreading, and by securing the shoe at this point I can direct the tension of the spring more forcibly thereupon.

If one side of the hoof require more spreading than the' other, I can securely nail one of the sides A A by nails driven its entire length, so that it will be firm, and simply secure the other side by nails at the toe and heel, so that the pressure of the spring on that side will have more effect than on the other.

It will be seen that the spring can be removed and changed without removing the shoe, which can be as permanent as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A horseshoe the sides of which, A A, have In witness whereof I have hereunto set my the1 naiLholes at the toe and heel, as shown, hand. an are pivoted at their forward ends to a toeplate, B, in combination with the spring 0, WILLIAM LEECH' 5 the base of which rests upon the toe-plate, and Witnesses its diverging arms a a press against the inner J. H. BLOOD, rear edges of' the sides A A, substantially as G. D. COLE. and for the purpose herein described. 

